Prusis back in Olympics after winning appeal

RIGA - Latvian bobsledder Sandis Prusis is back in the Olympics after an arbitration panel upheld his appeal Feb. 5 in Salt Lake City of The International Olympic Commitee ruling that would have banned him from the Games for steroid use.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed an earlier ruling by the IOC that would have prevented Prusis from competing in the Games. The court ruled that IOC bylaws forbid the IOC from compromising the independence of international federations.

Bobsledding's ruling body, the International Bobsled Federation (FIBT), last month suspended Prusis for testing positive for the steroid nandralone after a training run at the Olympic track in Park City, Utah on Nov. 9. A positive test normally carries a minimum two-year suspension from competition.

Prusis appealed, blaming the positive test on dietary supplements that he had unwittingly taken.

The federation agreed. Prusis was banned for three months retroactive to Nov. 9, clearing him for the Salt Lake City Games.

But the IOC on Feb. 2 overruled the FIBT's decision, saying it was "carved out" to allow Prusis to compete.

Last week's arbitration ruling contradicts IOC Director General Francois Carrard's statement last week regarding the ban on Prusis that the IOC's executive committee had the right to deny anyone the right to compete in the Olympic Games.

"We know that there is a loophole in the charter, but on the merits (of the case) the (arbitration panel) had some strong words for the federation," said Carrard.

He added that officials were already working to change the IOC's rules so that it would be assured of ultimate authority over who competes in the Olympics.

The World Anti-Doping Agency also expressed regret over the decision to allow Prusis to compete.

"It is difficult to understand actions that are in complete contradiction to the Olympic principles of fair play, doping-free sport and respect from fellow competitors," agency Chairman Dick Pound said. "I think it's a disgrace for the international federation and the (Latvian) National Olympic Committee. I think the athlete, himself, should be ashamed. It taints the performance of that athlete at the Games."

Last week, the IOC banned American bobsledder Pavle Jovanovic from Olympic competition after he tested positive for a banned substance. Like Prusis, Jovanovic blamed the positive results on dietary supplements.

The FIBT levied a nine-month suspension on Jovanovic, which would have kept him out of Olympic competition, so, like Prusis, he appealed to the arbitration panel.

The panel not only upheld the IOC ban on Jovanovic, they increased his suspension from nine months to two years.

The Olympic bobsledding competition begins Feb. 16.